Unloading device



g- 4, 1959 F. HOWARD 2,898,283

I UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 19 57 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Txcrl- I jfl W in; a

J lNVENTOR LEO Fl Hownwp RN EYS Aug. 4, 1959 F. HOWARD UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 450 F1 HOWKJPD BY W,

ATTO R N EYS 2,898,283 UNLOADING DEVICE Lego F. Howard, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to Metal & Thermit Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 26, 1957, SerialNo. 680,070

Claims. (Cl; 204-213) This invention relates to electroplating barrels and particularly to improved means for removing the work therefrom. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is shown in connection with an electroplating barrel of a type used in chromium plating.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view ofran electroplatingbarrel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of'said barrel;

Fig. 3 is a section through 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section through 4-4 of Fig. 5 and shows one part of the wall of the, 'barrel withthe. work removing blade mounted on the barrel wall;

Fig. 5 is an end view (see arrow 5 in Fig. 4) of that part of the barrel wall which is illustrated, in Fig. 4 with part of the wall cut away to show the work removing blade and'work;

Fig. 6 is a section through 66 of Fig. 4 but with the work removing blade raised to inoperative position; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing some of the parts from the open end. of the barrel and theirv direction of rotation.

Referring to said drawings, only the mainfeatures of the electroplating barrel willbereferred to becausethis invention has to do withthe means for. removing work from the-barrel and not the over-all construction. of the barrel itself.

Looking at Fig. 2, F showsa suitable supporting framework upon-Which is positioned atank T; Rotatably mounted above the tank is the rotatable barrel B which is positioned on the framework and tank so that the lower part thereof is immersed in the solution of the tank when thesolution is. at normal level. Barrel Bis supported on anddriven by a shaft S; Motor M through a Sllll'. able reduction gearR drives the shaft S. The barrel B is open at the left end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The rightv endor. the right end wall serves to support the barrellon the shaft S. The barrel is made of metal and each end wall has lips L which on the left side,'as viewed in these figures, form the opening to the interior of-the barrel. The. tank is equipped with the usual tem perature control coil C, circulator P and exhaust.

The anode for the bath isshown at A. Current is fed to this anode by the cable 1; The body of the barrel acts. as the: cathode and it is electrically connected to the circuit throughmeans of the brushes shown at B (Fig. 1). p

This invention particularly has to do with means for removing work from the barrel. Such work is shown at W (Figs. 2, 3, S and 6). Normally this work is tumbled around on the bottom of thebarrel B in theso-lution contained in; the tank T. The inside of the cylindrical barrel Wallis metal and makes contact withthe work. The work removal means comprises a blade 10, pivoted on the narrow end walls orlips' L, as shown in-Figs. 3-7. The pivotal axis of the blade is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and spaced from the outer cylindrical ice 2. wall of the, barrel by a distance substantially equal" to the width of the lips, or walls L, as shown in the abovementioned, figures. Blade 10, is supported on suitable pivot pins, one of which is shown at 14 on the left side'of Fig. 4, and the other at 15' on the right sideof the same figure. A wing nut-17 permits frictional adjustment of blade so that itwillstay inthe, position it is put inby the operator. I

A suitable operatinghandle 16 is attached to blade 10 so that the blade.- may be. turned aboutv its pivot axis between the position shown in Fig. 5, andposition shown in Fig. 6. When the bladelll is inthe position. shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the outer or. free edge, thereof isspaceda substantial, distance from the inner cylindrical wall. of the, barrel B and the work. is free to move, under the blade 10., as-it is. tumbled about in the, bottom. of the barrel; The direction of rotation of. the barrel in; relation to the blade is indicatedin Figs. 3, 5, 6 and.7-. As viewed fromthe open endof the barrel, the rotationis counter-clockwise.

A suitable screen or. tray-20 is supportedon horizontal tracks 21; 2.2 which extend fromthe outside ofthebarrel through the openend thereof. into the interior of the barrel above theanodeaA, asshownin Figs. 1-3.v This tray may be moved in. and out of. the barrel on. the tracks 21 and; 22. and may also be arranged; so. as to belifted-off the tracks, asshown-inthe dot-dash posi:

tionof. Fig. 2. It is: also: contemplated, although not illustrated, thattracks 21. and-22, may beconstructedfso that they can bewithdrawn from barrel- Bawhentray 20 is not: in use.

After-the workhas. been: subjected to the electro: plating process fora sufficient length of time, and it. is desired, to remove it from the'barrel, it isonlynecessary to movegtheblade'lil-from;the position-shownin Fig; 6 to the position'shown-in-Eig. 5.. Astheblade. comes-along towardfthe bottomof itspath of? travel, it will engage the work between; its advancing-face and. the; cylindrical wall of the; barrel, asshQWniinEig. 5; andthen carry; the'work upwardlyto the position'shown inFig. 3 where thework will spill off'gthe: blade-on; to theytr-ay, 20,-,asillustratedfinuFig. 3. Whenthis has-been accomplished, itisonlynecessary topull out;the tray'to, the-position Sl'10WI1' ll1 Fig. 2' and removethe work either withor without thetray. Thei bladeacamthen be returnedto the-position-shown in Fig; 6 wh'erelitfis, imperative and other. work may be. introduced for electroplating.

With'thisdevice workcan'be removedrfronrthe barrel without-stopping rotation-thereof.- It is only-necessary forv the operator to move the blade; 10 through amarc. ofabout 45 to. bring ittoits operative position andupon; rotation of the barrel through an arc. of aulittle, more than the work will be deposited on the tray-20 for-removal1j The: blade must be electronically isolated so thatit does not conduct current and interfere with" theuplating operation. This may be. accomplishedfiby. usingv a blade of a'non-conducting-material, e;g. a plastic, by coating the blade with a non-conducting material, by insulating the blade from the barrel at itsmountings, etc.

With the present construction the blade does not blanket the inner surface-of'the-barrel so' asto impede-electroplating deposition; the work: is-alwaysin contact with/the inner surface of the barrelwhen the. bladetis in inoperativeposition; Both the. bla'de.:10 and the anode. A may be movedsinto. .a .position'where:thet will :not be immersedxinl. the solution W hl1..WO1'ki iSidiS continued.-:

Theconstruction is simple and rugge'drandw it; lends itself'to incorporation:idacommereial typeof electroplating barrel- What is claimed is:

1. In barrel plating device, especially applicable for chromium plating from the chromic acid type solution, comprising a tank adapted to hold the plating solution at a predetermned solution level therein, a rotatable metallic barrel adapted to be partly immersed in said solution and with which work articles therein may make electrical contact having at least one end wall with a large central opening through which objects may extend and be introduced into or removed from the barrel without meeting obstruction when the barrel is rotated, the combination of a work-removing apparatus comprising a work-removing blade extending longitudinally of said barrel with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said barrel, pivot bearings for said blade in the end walls of said barrel located nearer the peripheral wall of the barrel than the axis thereof and adapted to permit said blade to be pivoted around the axis of said pivotal bearings so as to bring the free edge of said blade into contact with the inner peripheral wall of said barrel to entrap work articles between said blade and rotating barrel wall or alternatively permit said free edge of said blade to be moved away from said inner peripheral surface of said barrel to permit work articles to move freely along the inner wall of said barrel and a removable work-receiving tray in said barrel.

2. In barrel plating device, especially applicable for chromium plating from the chromic acid type solution, comprising a tank adapted to hold the plating solution at a predetermined solution level therein, a rotatable metallic barrel adapted to be partly immersed in said solution and with which work articles therein may make electrical contact having at least one end wall with a large central opening through which objects may extend and be introduced into or removed from the barrel withoutmeeting obstruction when the barrel is rotated, the combination of a Work-removing apparatus comprising a rectangular work-removing blade extending longitudinally of said barrel with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said barrel, pivot bearings for said blade in the end walls of said barrel adapted to permit said blade to be pivoted around the axis of said pivotal bearings so as to bring the free edge of said blade into contact with the inner peripheral Wall of said barrel to entrap work articles between said blade and rotating barrel wall or alternatively permit said free edge of said blade to be moved away from said inner peripheral surface of said barrel to permit work articles to move freely along the inner wall of said barrel, and work-receiving means adapted to be positioned in said barrel under said blade when said blade is near the top of its path of rotation, said means adapted to receive work trapped between said blade and the inner peripheral wall of said barrel as said blade moves across the top of its path of rotation and said work articles fall from the entrapment space between said blade and barrel wall.

3. In barrel plating device, especially applicable for chromium plating from the chromic acid type solution, comprising a tank adapted to hold the plating soluton at a predetermined solution level therein, a rotatable metallic barrel adapted to be partly immersed in said solution and with which work articles therein may make electrical contact having at least one end wall with a large central opening through which objects may extend and be introduced into or removed from thebarrel without meeting obstruction when the barrel is rotated, the combination of a work-removing apparatus comprising a work-removing blade extending longitudinally of said barrel, pivot bearings for said blade in the end walls of said barrel and adapted to permit said blade to be pivoted around the axis of said pivotal bearings so as to bring the free edge of said blade into contact with the inner peripheral wall of said barrel to entrap work articles between said blade and rotating barrel wall or alternatively permit said free edge of said blade to be moved away from said inner peripheral surface of said barrel to permit work articles to move freely along the inner wall of said barrel, and work-receiving means adaped to be positioned in said barrel under said blade when said blade is near the top of its path of rotation, said means adapted to receive work trapped between said blade and the inner peripheral wall of said barrel as said blade moves across the top of its path of rotation and said work articles fall from the entrapment space between said blade and barrel wall.

4. In barrel plating device, especially applicable for chromium plating from the chromic acid type solution, comprising a' tank adapted to hold the plating solution at a predetermined solution level therein, a rotatable metallic barrel adapted to be partly immersed in said solution and with which work articles therein may make electrical contact having at least one end wall with a large central opening through which objects may extend and be introduced into or removed from the barrel without meeting obstruction when the barrel is rotated, the combination of a work-removing apparatus comprising a work-removing blade extending longitudinally of said barrel with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said barrel, pivot bearings for said blade in the end walls of said barrel located nearer the peripheral wall of the barrel than the axis thereof and adapted to permit said blade to be pivoted around the axis of said pivotal bearings so as to bring the free edge of said blade into contact with the inner peripheral wall of said barrel to entrap work articles between said blade and rotating barrel wall or alternatively permit said free edge of said blade to be moved away from said inner peripheral surface of said barrel to permit work articles to move freely along the inner wall of said barrel, and work-receiving means adapted to be positioned in said barrel under said blade when said blade is near the top of its path of rotation, said means adapted to receive work trapped between said blade and the inner peripheral wall of said barrel as said blade moves across the top of its path of rotation and said work articles fall from the entrapment space between said blade and barrel wall.

5. In barrel plating device, especially applicable for chromium plating from the chromic acid type solution, comprising a tank adapted to hold the plating solution at a predetermined solution level therein, a rotatable metallic barrel adapted to be partly immersed in said solution and with which work articles therein may make electrical contact having at least one end wall with a large central opening through which objects may extend and be introduced into or removed from the barrel without meeting obstruction when the barrel is rotated, the combination of a workremoving apparatus comprising a rectangular work-removing blade extending longitudinally of said barrel with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said barrel, pivot bearings for said blade in the end walls of said barrel located nearer the peripheral wall of the barrel than the axis thereof and adapted to permit said blade to be pivoted around the axis of said pivotal bearings so as to bring the free edge of said blade into contact with the inner peripheral wall of said barrel to entrap work articles between said blade and rotating barrel wall or alternatively permit said free edge of said blade to be moved away from said inner peripheral surface of said barrel to permit work articles to move freely along the inner wall of said barrel, and work-receiving means adapted to be positioned in said barrel under said blade when said blade is near the top of its path of rotation, said means adapted to receive work trapped between said blade and the inner peripheral wall of said barrel as said blade moves across the top of its path of rotation and said work articles fall from the entrapment space between said blade and barrel wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,728 Dubpernell et a1 J an. 6, 1953 

1. IN BARREL PLATING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR CHROMIUM PLATING FROM THE CHROMIC ACID TYPE SOLUTION, COMPRISING A TANK ADAPTED TO HOLD THE PLATING SOLUTION AT A PREDETERMINED SOLUTION LEVEL THEREIN, A ROTABLE METALLIC BARREL ADAPTED TO BE PARTHLY IMMERSED IN SAID SOLUTION AND WITH WHCIH WORK ARTICLES THEREIN MAY MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT HAVING AT LEAST ONE END WALL WITH A LARGE CENTRAL OPENING THROUGH WHICH OBJECTS MAY EXTEND AND BE INTRODUCED INTO OR REMOVCED FROM THE BARREL WITHOUT MEETING OBSTRUCTION WHEN THE BARREL IS ROTATED, THE COMBINATION OF A WORK-REMOVING APPARATUS COMPRISING A WORK-REMOVING BLADE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BARREL WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID BARREL, PIVOT BEARING FOR SAID BLADE IN THE END WALLS OF SAID BARREL LOCATED NEARER THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE BARREL THAN THE AXIS THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO PERMIT SAID BLADE TO BE PIVOTED AROUND THE AXIS OF SAID PIVOTAL BEARINGS SO AS TO BRING THE FREE EDGE OF SAID BLADE INTO CONTACT WITH THE INNER PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID BARREL TO ENTRAP WORK ARTICLES BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND ROTATING BARREL WALL OR ALTERNATIVELY PERMIT SAID FREE EDGE OF SAID BLADE TO BE MOVED AWAY FROM SAID INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID BARREL TO PERMIT WORK ARTICLES TO MOVE FREELY ALONG THE INER WALL OF SAID BARREL AND A REMOVABLE WORK-RECEIVING TRAY IN SAID BARREL. 